Tucked away on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island is the small township of Franz Josef, or as some people refer to it, the gateway to Glacier Country. From hiking on one of the biggest glaciers in the country, to seeking out secret little waterfalls, there's no shortage of exciting and adventurous things to do in Franz Josef. Believe it or not, the glacier descends from the Southern Alps mountain range, all the way down to just 300 meters (984 feet) above sea level. Undoubtedly, this makes it one of the steepest glaciers in New Zealand, which is pretty impressive considering that the country is home to the impressive number of 2,900 of them.
Premium Self Drive Adventure in New Zealand!. From Christchurch (the gateway to New Zealand's South Island). Then escape driving along the country visiting: Greymouth (largest town in the West Coast with a history of jade hunting, gold mining and dramatic river floods, as well as its beer and wild west coast stories). Continue to Franz Josef (is one of most publicly-accessible glaciers in New Zealand, and among the most accessible in the world) and finally, enjoy a pleasant stay in Queenstown (known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown is home to a range of adventures, from the world's first and most famous bungy jumps - the Kawarau Bridge Bungy). This is a flexible vacation package. Select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities.
Experience the Geothermal Wonders of Rotorua! ...and enjoy a unique thermal spa experience in its relaxing hot mineral spring bathing, spa therapies, teaming cliffs, volcanic craters, picturesque lake views and many more geothermal features.
This is one of the few glaciers in the world not receding because of global warming. The scenery changes every day on the glacier because it is constantly moving and new routes are always being made.
Queenstown is the centre for adventure tourism in New Zealand. The town is built around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu and has spectacular views of nearby mountains.
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